Mining machine



June 28, 1932. F. A, LINDGREN MINTNG MACHINE Original' Filed Deo. 3l.1926 5 4Sheets-Sheet l im i w10 MMR www June Z8, 1932. F. A. LINDGRx-:N

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 3l. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NY. NNl

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June 28, 1932. |=.A AI LIN'DGREN 1,864,841

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Deo. 51. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www?Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE i y FRANKA..LINDGREN, F WESTERN SERINGS, ILLINIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN U- 'iFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOISMINING :MACHINE Application filed December 31, 1926, Serial No. 158,290.Renewed September 10, 1931.

This invention relates to mining machines and more particularly to truckmounted machines constructed along lin-es similar to the breast type ofmining machine adapted to make vertical or shearing cuts in the minewall instead of the usual horizontal cuts.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a new andimproved machine of'the class described having the complete driving andcutting mechanism movable in a frame forfeeding a cutter bar into theface of the material to be mined, which frame is mounted for pivotalmovement about a horizontal axis at the rear end of a truck frame, andelevating means adapted to engage the forward end of said firstmentioned frame so as to move the same about said hori-` zontal axis andadjust the cutter bar to a desired height and move said cutter bar aboutsaid horizontal axis vfor cutting a vertical korf in the face of themine wall. Other .0bjects of my invention will appearfrom time to timeduring the course of the following description.

My invention may be more clearly understood with .reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a plan View of the machine with parts broken away and insection to show a portion of the gearing arrangement;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine with the cutting element inposition for transporting;

Figure 3 is a partial side view of the rear end of the machine withparts broken away and in section to show the gearing and drivingarrangement;

Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the detachable driveconnect-ion from the motor to the elevating mechanism for 4the cuttingelement;

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating the construction of the frontend of the stationary frame taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is asectional view through the elevating drive shaft taken online 6 6 of Figure giand l Y I Figure 7 is a plan view of the forwardend of the machine with parts Yofthe elevating mechanism showninsection.

Referringnowin particular to the embodiment of my inventionasillustrated'in ftheaccompanying drawings, VI .have provided a verticalcutting element reciprocably movable in a guide frame generallyindicated at 'l The cutting mechanism herein shownv isk similar to thatused on the ordinary commercial type of breast machine but is'adapted tocut in a vertical plane instead of a horizontal plane. Said cuttingmechanism comprises a reciprocably movable triangular shaped cutter barhaving an endless cutter chain 21 thereon driven by suitable gearreduction mechanism from a motor secured to a supporting' frame 12. Thesupporting frame 12 supports the feeding and cutterA chain drive gearingand is slidable in the guide frame 11. The rearward end of the cutterbar 2O is supported on the supporting frame l2 and has slidablelconnection with the vertically Vadjustable support at its forward end.

Reciprocable movement of the cutterbar- 2() and the frame l2 is obtainedby sprockets 2, 2 which mesh with racks 3, 3, on the top and bottomsides of the stationary guide frame 1l. Said sprockets are driven by themotor 25 at one speed in one direction and at" a diherentspeed in theopposite direction by suitable gear'reduction mechanism whichV is asfollows: l Y Y A motor pinion 26 meshes with and drivesa gear 27 whichis fixed to the hub of a bevel pinion 28 and drives said Abevel pinion.The bevel pinion 28 meshes with a bevel gear 4 on a transverselyextending shaft 5 and 'drives a worm 6 keyed to said shaft. The worm`6meshes with and` drives a worm gear 7 keyed to an` upright shaft 8 (seeFig. 3'). A sleeve 9 is freely mounted on said shaft. Said sleeve hasclutch jaws 9a at its lower end and a spur pinion 9b at its upper end. fThe spur pinion Qin turn meshes with an internal 'gear 18 keyed to ashaft 14 to rotate said shaft and on a transversely extending thesprockets 2, 2 on the shaft 14 when operatively connected to the shaft8. The spur pinion 9b is operatively connected to the shaft 8 through aclutch member 18 feathered to said shaft having jaws 18a, engageablewith the jaws 9a on the sleeve 9 to drive said sleeve. The clutch member18 also has jaws 18?) at its lower end engageable with jaws 19a on agear 19 freely mounted on the shaft 8 to drive said gear and the shaft14 through a spur pinion 22 in an opposite direction to and at a fasterspeed than the spur pinion 9b.

Shifting means of a well known type controlled by a lever 23 pivoted tothe supporting frame 12 at 23a are provided to shift the clutch member18. The lever 23 may be actuated by a hand lever`24 or may beautomatically shifted in the usual manner employed on breast machines,that is, by stops provided at the forward and rearward portions of theguide frame 11 to engage the lever 23 at the extreme end of the forwardand rearward movement of the cutting mechanism to reverse the directionof travel of the cutting mechanism during its forward movementJ andreturn it at a faster speed than the sumping speed, and to stop rearwardmovement of said cutting mechanism. These stops are not shown since thisshifting means is well known to the art and forms no part of my presentinvention.

A sprocket 29 keyed to the shaft 5 meshes with the cutter chain 21 anddrives said chain inv guides about the cutter bar 2O in a usual manner.

It may be seen that pivotal movement of the guide frame 11 about itsaxis of pivotal support with the wheeled truck 10, which axis isrearward of the rearwardmost truck wheels, effected by the verticallyadjustable support 30 forwardly of the forwardmost.

truckY wheels effects vertical movement of the cutter bar 20'. Thus insumping the cutter bar 20 into the face of the mine wall the cuttingmechanism is moved forwardly in the guide frame 11 with the top portionof the cutter bar 2O adjacent the mine roof for cutting a vertical kerf.When the cutter bar 2O has been moved into the coal to the desired depthit is lowered by means of the yadjustable supportv 30 until the forwardend thereof is adjacent the mine floor when it is withdrawn from thecoal along the guide frame l1.

The guide frame 11 extends longitudinally of the machine and issupported at the rear end thereof'by a vertical member 15 secured to andextending rearwardly therefrom and pivotally supported adjacent itslower end shaft 16. The transversely extending shaft 16 is supportedintermediate a pair of bearings 17 secured on opposite sides of thewheeled truck 10 adjacent the rearward endthereof and rearwardly of therearwardmost truck supporting wheels.

The raising or lowering mechanism for the cutting element will now bedescribed as follows:

The vertically adjustable support 30 is disposed at the forward end ofthe wheeled truck 10 forwardly of the forwardmost truck wheels formoving the guide frame l1 about the axis of the transversely extendingshaft 16.

A pair of arm supports 3l. are integral with and extend forwardly fromthe guide frame 11 and have connection with the vertically adjustablesupport 30 for movement with respect thereto in rack members 46, 46 (seeFigs. 5, 6 and 7).

A support member 32 is formed-between the forwardly extending armsupports 31 integralwith the guide frame 11 at one side of the cutterbar 20. The support member 32 has a restricted portion which extendsthrough the cutter bar 20 and Yhas a support member 32o; formed integraltherewith on the opposite side of said cutter bar. Guide grooves 39 areformed in the top and bottom portions of the restricted portion of thesupport member 32 and form a slidable support for the cutter bar 20.rIhe guide grooves 39 are engaged by a transversely disposed slot 40extending longitudinally of the cutter bar 2O as may clearly be seenwith reference to Figures 2 and 6. A bearing disc 33 is secured to theoutside of the support member 32 and extends outwardly therefrom while abearing disc 33a is secured at the outside of the support member 32a.The bearing discs 33 and 33a form a bearing support for a transverselydisposed drive shaft 34 extending through the support membersy 32 and32a and having pinions 45 keyed thereon adjacent the outer sides of thebearing discs 32 and 32a, which pinions are adapted to mesh with therack members 46, 46 in a manner which will hereinafter be more fullydescribed for moving the vertically adjustable support member 30 alongsaid rack members. 'i

Means are provided for driving the drive shaft 34 and the pinions 45 formoving the vertically adjustable support 30 along the racks 46 orholding said support in fixed rela- Y tion with respect to said rackswhich comprise a worm gear 35 keyed to one 'end of the drive shaft 34and driven by a worm 36 integral with a shaft 37. The shaft 37 has abearing support at its ends in a gear housing 38 integral with andextending outwardly from the bearing support 33, The shaft 37 isoperatively connected to the Cutter chain and feed drive mechanism so itmay be driven from the motor 25 in a manner which will hereinafterV bemore fully described.

The worm gearing above described is of the self-locking type'for holdingthe adjustable support 30 in fixed relation with respect to the racks 46when desired and is driven their ends.

from the motor 25 in a manner whichwill hereinafter be described. f

The racks 46 are secured to bracket members 47 disposed on shafts 48intermediate The shafts 48 are supported at their ends on bearingmembers 49 secured to the forward end of the truck frame 1Q foraffording hinged or pivotal movement to the rack members 46 about atransversely disposed axis, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. Rackguides 50 are formed integral with the bearing discs 33 and extend aboutsaid racks and engageshoulders thereon to hold said racks in Yan'uprightposition and move` said racks about the axis of the shaft 48 uponmovement of the guide frame 11 about the axis of the shaft 16 and so asto maintain the same in proper engagement with the pinions 45. lt willnow be seen that through the engagement of the pinions 45 with thehinged racks 46, the complete supporting frame 12, including the cuttingelement and guide frame 11, may be moved about theaxis of thetransversely extending shaft 16 for raising or lowering the cutter bar20. It should be noted that the pivotal support of the racks 46 on thewheeled truck 10 permits the pinions 45 to mesh with said racks when thesupporting frame 12 is beinfr moved about the axis ofr the shaft 16 andeliminates binding between said pinions and racks due to the arcuatemovement of the shaft 34 about the axis of the transversely extendingshaft 16.

The elevating mechanism as above described may be operated by anindependent motor, but as herein shown is operated by the motor 25 whichalso drivesthe cutting mechanism. Said motor is mounted on the rear endof the supporting frame 12, and is provided with an armature shaft 55which supports the armature pinion 26 for driving the feeding andcutting mechanism as has hereinbefore been described. The forward end ofthe armature shaft vhas threaded and pinned thereon a clevis nut 56. Avuniversal knuckle 57 is detachably secured to said clevis nut byV a pin58. Said knuckle is provided with a pairvof forwardly projecting ears 57a forming a pivot support for the end of a longitudinally extendingsleeve member 59. The sleeve member 59 has telescopically mountedtherein a shaft 60 adapted to be rotated thereby by means of a key 61-secured to said shaft, extending through and engaging a slot 62 in saidsleeve member. The slot 62 extends longitudinally of the sleeve member59 so as to permit driving of the. shaft 60 by the sleeve member 59 whensaid shaft is telescoped relativelyawith respect tosaid sleeve member asis illustrated in ure 4. The forward end of the shaft 60 is providedwith an end member 63 pivotally mounted in a clevis bracket 64 which isdetachably secured to the worm shaft 37 by a pin 65.

Itl should be noted that for the sake of simplicity in construction, thedetachable driving connection for the cutter bar elevating mechanism isherein preferably shown so it may only be operated when the cutterl bar20 is in a retracted or transporting position as illustrated in Figure2, but that said driving connection may be so arranged that it may beused to move the cutter bar 20 vertically when said cutter bar is sumpedinto the coal or is yin a cutting position if desired in a manner wellknown to those skilled in the art. ln the form shown the detachabledrive connection for the elevating mechanism is removed before thecuttingVV element and cutter frame are driven forwardly in the guideframe and when the machine is being transported since no clutch meansare provided between said drive connection and the motor 25. Suitablemeans are provided for operating the elevating mechanism by hand whendesired j which herein comprise a hand crank shown in dottedy lines inFigure 1 and referred to by reference character 67, which hand crank isadapted to engage a squared end of the worm shaft 37 for rotating saidshaft.

It may now be seen that elevating mechanism has been provided for thecutter bar 2O which is so disposed as to be adjacent thel forward endofthe truck 10 and which therefor-e provides a vertically adjustablesupport for the cutter bar 2() adjacent the face of the coal during theentire cutting operation and that said elevating mechanism vmay beeither` operated manually or by means of a suitable motor herein shownas the motor 25 for driving the feed and cutter chain operatingmechanism.

Referringy now in particular to the means for moving the complet-emachine about the mine from working place toy 'workingv place: trackwheels keyed to axles 71 support the. truck v10 for movement about themine and are driven by the motor 25 in asimilar man* square shank whichfits into a socket 76 in I tra it is only necessary to put the shaft 73in its proper place meshing the gear .75 with the gear 74 to drive theshaft 73, and that when the machine is performing the cutting oper-"ation it is only necessary to disconnect the gears 74; and 75 andremove the shaft 78.

The use and operation of the machine described is as follows:

The complete machine is transported from room to room, preferably onmine traclrs to expedite operations. The machine is drivenperpendicularly to the face of the coal with the elevating mechanism andvertically adjustable support adjacent the face of the d coal. Thedetachable truck drive connection is disconnected from the motor 25 andthe elevating mechanism drive means is operativey connected to saidmotor so the cutter bar 2O may be raised to the desi 1ed cuttingelevation. A jack 85 is interposed between the rearward end of themachine and the mine roof to hold the machine steady during the cuttingoperation. The cutter bar is then adjusted to tl e desired height whichis usually the height of the seam of coal and then sumped into the faceof the coal by the pinions 22 meshing with racks 3, 3 preferably for itsfull length when it is fed in a downwardly direction to make a shearingcut in a usual manner and then withdrawn by said racks and pinions whenthe cutter bar 2O is raised to an inoperative or transporting position.

Although l have shown and described one form in which my invention maybe embodied, it will be understood that the construction and arrangementof the various parts may be changed or altered without departing fromthe spirit and scope thereof.

g Moreover, I do not Wish to be construed as limiting` myself to theparticular form illustrated, excepting as it may be specifically limitedin the appended claims.

l l claim as my invention.

l. In a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a pair of axleshaving wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a guide frame pivotedon said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of the rearwardmost pairof said supporting` wheels, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in saidguide Y frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on saidreciprocating cutter frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chainmovable thereabout, and means on said truck forwardly of the forwardmostpair of said truck supporting wheels and adjacent the forward portion ofsaid cutter bar when in a retracted position for moving said guide frameabout its axis of pivotal connection to said truck to raise or lowersaid cutting element.

2. In a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a pair of axleshaving wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a

guide frame pivoted on said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of therearwardmost pair of said supporting wheels, a reciprocating cutterframe movable in said guide frame, a vertically disposed cutting elementon said reciprocating cutter frame including a cutter bar having acutter chain movable thereabout, and means on said truck forwardly ofthe forwardmost pair of said truclr supporting wheels and adjacent theforward portion of said cutter bar when in a retracted position formoving said guide frame about its axis of pivotal connection tQ saidtruck to raise or lower the forward end of said cutter bar comprising arack extending substantially vertically upwardly from said truck frame,guide means on said guide frame engaging said rack and a pinionsupported on said guide frame and meshing with said rack.

3. ln a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a pair of axleshaving wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a guide frame pivotedon said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of the rearwardmost pairof said supporting wheels, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in saidguide frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocatingcutter frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movablethereabout, and means on said truck forwardly of the forwardmost pair ofsaid truclr supporting wheels and adjacent the forward portion of saidcutter bar when in a retracted position for moving said guide frameabout its pivotal axis of connection to said truclr to raise or lowerthe forward end of said cuttei` bar comprising a rack pivotallyconnected to said truck frame adjacent the forward end thereof, guidemeans on said guide frame engaging said rack and holding said rack in asubstantially vertical position, and a pinion on said guide framemeshing with said rack for moving said guide frame along said rack uponrotation thereof.

. 4. In a mining machine of the class de scribed, a truck, a pair ofaxles having wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a guide framepivoted on said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of therearwardmost pair of said supporting wheels, a reciprocating cutterframe movable in said guide frame, a vertically disposed cutting elementon said reciprocating cutter frame including a cutter bar having acutter chain movable thereabout, andmeans on said truck forwardly of theforwardmost pair of said truck supporting wheels and adjacent theforward portion of said cutter bar when in a retracted position formoving said guide frame yabout its axis of pivotal connection to saidtruck to raise or lower the forward end of said cutter bar comprising apair of substantially vertically extending racks on said truck adjacentthe forward end thereof and a pair of pinio'ns lon loo said guidel frame'meshing' with saidl racks for moving said guide frame along said racksupon rotation of said pinions.

V5.- In' a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a pair'ofaxles having Wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a guide framepivoted on said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of therearwardmost pair of said supporting wheels, a reciprocating cutterframe movable in said guidevframe, a vertically disposed cutting elementon said reciprocating cutterframe including a cutter bar having a cutterchain movable thereabout, and means on said truck forwardly of theforwardmost pair of said truck supporting wheels and adjacent theforward portion of said cutter bar when in a retracted position formoving said guide frame about its axis of pivotal connection to saidtruck to raise or lower the forward end of said cutter bar comprising apair of racks pivotally connected to said truck adjacent the forward endthereof and adapted to extend upwardly therefrom, and a pair of pinionson said guide frame meshing with said racks for moving said guide framealong said racks upon rotation of said pinions.

6. In a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a pair of axleshaving wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a guide frame pivotedon said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of the rearwardmost pairof said supporting wheels, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in saidguide frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocatingcutter frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movablethereabout, and means on said truck forwardly of the forwardmost pair ofsaid truck supporting wheels and adjacent the forward portion of saidcutter bar when in a retracted position for moving said guide frameabout its axis of pivotal connection to said truck to raise or lower theforward end of said cutter bar comprising a pair of racks pivotallyconnected to said truck frame adjacent the forward end thereof anddisposed on each side of said guide frame, guide means on said guideframe engaging said racks and holding said racks in an upstandingposition, and a pair of pinions on said guide frame meshing with saidracks for moving said guide frame along said racks upon rotationthereof.

7 In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame, a guide framepivotally mounted on a transverse axis at its rearward portion on therearward end of said main frame, a reciprocating cutter frame movable insaid guide frame, a motor on said reciprocating cutter frame, avertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutter frame,driving mechanism connectible with said motor for driving said cuttingelement and reciprocating said cutter frame in said guide guide frame,means on the forward end of` .guide'frame about its pivotal connectiontosaid main frame and vertically adjusting said cutting element. t 8.v Ina mining machine, the combination of a main frame, a guide framepivotally mounted on a transverse axis at its rearward portion on therearward end of said imain frame, a reciprocating cutter frameV movablein said guide frame, a motor on said reciprocating cutter frame, avertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutter frame,driving mechanism connectible with said motor for drivingy said cuttingelement and reciprocating said cutter framein said guide frame, means onthe forward end'of said main frame adjacent the forward portion of saidcutter frame when in a retracted yposition cooperating with means onsaid guide frame for moving saidv guide frame about its pivotalconnection `with said main frame, and a telescopic detachablyconnectible universal coupling yconnecting said motor with said meansonf said guide frame for moving said guide frame about its pivotalconnection to saidmain frame and vertically adjusting said cuttingelement.

y 9. In a mining machine, the combination of' a main frame, a guideframe pivotally mounted on a transverse axis at its rearward portion onthe rearward end of said main frame, a reciprocating cutter framemovable in said guide frame, a motor on said reciprocating cutter frame,a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutterframe, driving mechanism connectible with said motor `for driving saidcutting element'l and reciprocating said cutter frame in said guideframe, a rack on theforward'end` Vof said main frame adjacentthe forward'portion of said cutter frame when in a retracted position, a pinion onsaid guidek frame cof operating with said rack for moving said guideframe about its pivotal connection with said main frame, and power meansfor driving said pinion whereby said cutting element may be verticallyadjusted about said axis of pivotal connection of said guide frame tosaid main frame. a

10. In a mining machinerof the class de` scribed, a truck, a guide framehaving a transverse pivotal connection with the rearward portion of saidtruck, a vertically disposed cutting element mounted. for reciprocablemovement in said guide frame, a motor, drive means connectible with saidmotor for imparting vreciprocable movement to said cutting element,elevating means comprising a rack truniiioned on the forward end of saidtruck having connection with said pivotally mounted guide frame formoving said guide frame about its axis of pivotal connection to saidtruck to raise or lower said cutting element, and power meansconnectible with said motor and said elevating means comprising alongitudinally extending telescoping drive member for operating saidelevating means.

11. In a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a guide framehaving a transverse pivotal connection with the rearward vportion ofsaid truck, a vertically disposed cutting element mounted forreciprocable movement in said guide frame, a motor, drive meansconnectible with said motor for imparting reciprocable movement to saidcutting element, a plurality of racks trunnioned on the forward end ofsaid truck, guide means on said guide frame slidably connectible withsaid racks for holding said racks in an upright position, pinions onsaid guide frame having engagement with said racks, and a drivingconnection from said motor to said pinion whereby said guide frame maybe moved about its axis of pivotal connection to said truck to raise orlower said cutting element.

12. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame mounted onsupporting wheels and axles, a guide fra-ine pivotally mounted at therear end of said main frame, a reciprocating cutter frame provided withf a motor, driving mechanism operated by said motor, a forwardlyextending cutting element having engagement with said driving mechanism,elevating means carried at the forward end of said machine comprising adetachably connectible longitudinally eX- tending telescopiiig drivemember operated by said motor and driving a worm disposed in a housingsupported in the forward end of said guide frame, said worm being meshedwith a worm gear mounted on a transversely disposed drive shaft, a pairof pinions car-V ried on said shaft adapted to have engagement with apair of vertically disposed racks hingedly secured to the forward end ofsaid main frame.

13. In a truck mounted mining machine provided with supporting wheelsand axles therefor, the combination of a main frame, a guide framepivotally mounted at the rear end of said main frame, a reciprocatingcutter frame provided with a. motor, driving mechanism operated by saidmotor, a vertically disposed cutting element having engagement with saiddriving mechanism, said driving mechanism being adapted to drive saidcutter frame and cutting element either forwardly o-r rearwardly in saidguide frame, means on said main and guide frames for elevating theforward end of said guide frame thereby coincidentally elevating saidcutter frame and cutting element, detachably connectible drivingconnections between said elevating means and' said motor, and truckdriving mechanism carried on said main frame being detachablyconnectible withvsaid ico ' ies

